Tuesday, April 21, 2009

It's Official: Lions Get New Look

The Detroit Lions introduced their new modified logo and uniforms at a news conference this morning.  Read the release.  See the photos.  

Now, if they can do something else new-- WIN!

Oh, Good Evening!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Image Overhaul


The Detroit Lions are, in fact, introducing a new logos and uniforms for the 2009 season.  The announcement will come on Monday.  "Bubbles," the leaping lion looks more aggressive.  The uniforms appear to have only minor adjustments.  We'll see what they look like on the players.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

GM News from New York Auto Show

General Motors makes big announcements at the New York International Auto Show including pricing for the 2010 Buick Lacrosse sedan.  I saw this vehicle on display at the recent Atlanta Auto Show and it really looks good.  This may be the first Buick that I would consider driving.

Oh, Good Evening!

Here's the GM release:

BUICK ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE 2010 LACROSSE

New Buick LaCrosse Offers Generous List of Standard Equipment in a Package Priced Less Than $28,000

NEW YORK – Buick today announced pricing for the 2010 LaCrosse luxury sedan. It starts at $27,835 for the CX model, including a $750 destination charge.

Standard equipment includes a new, technologically advanced 3.0L direct injection (DI) V-6, premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. The 3.0L engine generates 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 217 lb.-ft. of torque (294 Nm) and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

“The new LaCrosse, with its luxurious interior, premium craftsmanship and personal technologies, represents a strong value in today’s changing market,” said Susan Docherty, Buick-Pontiac-GMC vice president. “It is the next step in Buick’s renaissance that is drawing all-new customers to this revitalized brand.”

Pricing and details for LaCrosse’s other models includes:

  • $30,395 for CXL FWD (including destination). Building on the CX model’s equipment, it includes the 3.0L DI V-6 and six-speed automatic, but adds leather heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch alloy wheels
  • $32,570 for CXL AWD (including destination). Equipment is similar to the CXL FWD model, but includes a fully automatic, intelligent all-wheel-drive system that works in tandem with the anti-lock braking system and StabiliTrak electronic stability control system to deliver sure-footed traction in almost all driving conditions
  • $33,765 for CXS (including destination). Equipment includes a 3.6L direct injection V-6; perforated, leather heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch wheels are optional). The 3.6L engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and generates 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 259 lb.-ft. of torque (351 Nm)

The 2010 LaCrosse’s sculpted design is instantly recognizable as a Buick, with signature ‘sweep spear’ body-side styling, a waterfall grille and portholes,” said Docherty. “Inside, premium materials create an inviting and comfortable environment, with ice blue ambient lighting used throughout – from the center console to the instrument panel and door panels.”

A roster of standard and available features delivers a responsive, refined driving experience that is complemented by personal technologies. Examples include:

  • European-designed chassis and suspension systems that deliver a confident driving experience
  • Real-time damping suspension system
  • High-intensity discharge headlamps with adaptive forward lighting
  • Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Bluetooth phone connectivity
  • Rear-seat DVD entertainment system
  • Six standard air bags, including roof-mounted head curtain side air bags
Complementing all of LaCrosse’s features is Buick’s signature QuietTuning, an engineering process that reduces, blocks and absorbs interior noise to provide a distraction-free passenger environment.

LaCrosse production begins early this summer at the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kan.

# # #

CONTACT(S):
Randy Fox
Buick Communications
Phone: 313-667-4128
Mobile: 313-378-5872
E-mail: randal.l.fox@gm.com

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Apple - iPhone OS 3.0 Preview

Apple is preparing to release the latest iPhone operating system. OS 3.0 will include several upgrades inspired by iPhone users. For a preview, click the link below. The presentation is nearly 90-minutes long with the first 60-70 minutes directed more at software developers. If you just want to know the great upgrades iPhone users will enjoy, fast forward through the developer stuff.

Apple - iPhone - iPhone OS 3.0 Preview: "Watch the presentation"

Monday, April 06, 2009

2009 Final Four Championship

I'm disappointed Michigan State couldn't pull off the win, but congratulations to North Carolina. The Tar Heels played an outstanding game.  And, a HUGE congratulations to the City of Detroit for successfully hosting another major sporting event. 
GO MOTOWN!!!

Friday, April 03, 2009

Iowa Supreme Court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional

Iowa becomes first Midwestern state and fourth in the U.S. to allow same-sex marriage.

Oh, Good Evening!

Sen. Jim DeMint's effort to block future TARP help for automakers fails


Southern lawmakers who have foreign auto plants in their states do not support helping domestic automakers through these difficult times.  Republican U.S. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina, whose state is home to a BMW plant, offered an amendment to the budget resolution that would have barred future Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) money from being distributed to automakers to help them restructure and avoid bankruptcy.

The amendment failed, 31-66 with 2 senators not voting.  Click to see roll call results. You will notice that fellow Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker from Mississippi (Nissan), Sens. David Shelby and Jeff Sessions of Alabama (Mercedes Benz, Honda, Hyundai), and Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia (Kia), all joined DeMint and fellow South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in voting "Yea."  Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee (Nissan, Volkswagen) were the only Southerners with foreign auto plants in their state to vote "Nay."

Oh, Good Evening!

The below release details DeMint's effort.

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2009
Office of U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina)
Contact: Wesley Denton (202) 228-5079

DeMint to Force Vote on Ending Auto Bailouts
Budget Amendment would ban further use of taxpayer funds to prop up failing auto manufacturers

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, announced plans to offer an amendment to the budget resolution to end bailouts for automobile manufacturers like General Motors and Chrysler. Specifically, the amendment prohibits the use of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to provide further bailouts to auto manufacturers.

“The auto bailouts have made a bad situation worse by wasting billions of dollars and delaying inevitable restructuring for these failing companies,” said Senator DeMint. “We reached a point of absurdity this week when the nation’s highest office was turned into a car dealership. It’s time to end this embarrassing socialist experiment.

“America is founded on free people living under established laws, but this administration is changing the laws of our economy on a daily basis and it’s anyone’s guess which business is next in line for a government takeover. This vote is about drawing a line in the sand to tell the administration it can no longer micromanage our economy with unchecked power. We must put the brakes on this out of control socialization of our economy.

“Not only are the bailouts unlawful and unfair to taxpayers, but they haven’t improved the economy and are corrosive to private industry. The administration has used the bailouts as an excuse to oust the CEO of a private company, while ignoring the unions that dragged the automakers to the market floor. The union bosses who forced inflated wages and unsustainable legacy costs onto GM and Chrysler have curiously escaped the administration’s all-powerful grip.

“Congress never gave the President the authority to take over the American auto industry. Instead, Congress rejected the auto bailouts last year and urged GM and Chrysler to enter bankruptcy to manage their crises under the same laws used by other companies.

“Now that these companies have burned through more than $17 billion from taxpayers, they are brazenly asking for at least $21 billion more. Americans are fed up with their tax dollars being wasted on failed companies while their families struggle to make ends meet.

“I’m pleased the administration’s auto task force has finally agreed that bankruptcy is necessary, but I’m afraid their version of bankruptcy will be guided by politics not economics or the rule of law.

“America did not become the world’s leading economic power by allowing Washington bureaucrats to centrally manage our economy. We became strong and prosperous through free-market capitalism that rewards innovation, competition and hard work. We cannot reward failure and expect our economy to succeed.”

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